1960 Map of Burns

About this map

The high desert landscape of Burns and Hines is defined here by the intricate drainage of the Silvies River and its various sloughs. In the early 1960s, the area's agricultural and ranching roots are evident through numerous named holdings such as Black Ranch, Sylvester Place, and the Peterson Ranch. The map captures the community's essential infrastructure, including the Union High Sch, the County Fairgrounds, and the Oregon Agricultural Exp Sta. Industrial and utility footprints are visible through several Gravel Pits and the local Sewage Disposal system. To the west, the terrain rises into Burns Butte and Willow Creek Flats, where a Military Reservation and Radio Tower stand near the edge of the sagebrush-dominated valley. The presence of the Northwestern Pacific railroad corridor highlights the vital transport links connecting these isolated Harney County settlements.